Harrison County, TX Insulation Payback
Is attic insulation worth it in Harrison County, TX?
Harrison County, Texas is zone 3 under DOE's climate map (Hot-Humid), which means summers that stay hot and humid while winters barely register on the energy bill. An uninsulated attic there should be built up to R-49. For an attic around 1,000 square feet, closing the gap from R-2 to R-49 costs around $2,820 and saves an estimated $1,026 a year — payback in roughly 2.7 years. Few home upgrades pay back that quickly.
Heating vs. cooling in Harrison County
Heating accounts for about $663/year of that and cooling about $364/year — Harrison County needs both. Nationally, Harrison County ranks in the 18th percentile for insulation savings potential. Compared only against its own climate zone, Harrison County places 422nd out of 690. Against Texas's own average of $1,035/year, Harrison County runs 1% below that.
Where these numbers come from
NOAA's MARSHALL, TX US station, 4.9 miles from Harrison County, supplies the 2,498 HDD and 2,282 CDD this estimate runs on. That combined heating-and-cooling load ranks Harrison County 2557th nationally by total degree days — the 19th percentile. Its moisture regime is classified humid, which matters for whether the attic needs a vapor retarder as part of the job — worth asking a contractor about locally.
If the attic isn't bare
If Harrison County's attic already has 3-4 inches of old insulation (about R-11) rather than bare joists, the recommended target drops to R-38. That smaller top-up costs around $1,620 and saves an estimated $138/year — payback about 11.7 years. Whether that is worth it depends on how long you plan to stay.
Getting it done in Harrison County
Get more than one quote before committing. Attic access and any needed air sealing move the price around, and most contractors won't take a job below roughly $600 regardless of size - worth asking upfront given Harrison County's estimated $1,026/year on the line.
Harrison County's numbers, sourced
The methodology guide lists exactly which DOE and NOAA sources feed Harrison County's numbers, and where the cost assumptions come from. See the DIY vs. contractor guide for whether a job this size is realistic to do yourself.